Calf Rope

What a beautiful film. For 30 minutes, I was captivated and charmed by this little heartwarming story. The period-accurate sets, cinematography and visuals, along with the wonderful cast made falling into this story feel very natural.

The most unexpected aspect of Calf Rope was the near immediate connection I felt with the characters. The affection between Brandon and his grandfather, and Brandon's belief that his grandfather is the most wonderful, powerful person in the world reminded me of what it was like as a small boy to see my grandfather as an unstoppable hero, the most loving and compassionate person in the world.

Brandon has a vague understanding of the flaws of his grandfather, but his opinion is unchanged.

The supporting cast was terrific, especially as the story came to a close. The emotions conveyed drew me into the final moments. I did not expect to have tears in my own eyes in such a short span of time.

The story was told in such a way that I never felt it was too slow, nor rushed; In fact, I was unaware of the passage of time as I watched. The content is wholesome, imbued with powerful a powerful message and evocative imagery. I would certainly recommend for families to enjoy together.

Lastly, the score was wonderful. Sounds of joy, imagination, and excitement, providing the audience with same triumphant emotions Brandon experienced as he watched his grandfather be the amazing, magical man he was. The composer choose the best instrumentation for the film, taking us back in time with the story. The score provided the proper context for the scenes, becoming its own character at the appropriate moments, while being understated and subdued in the most crucial heartfelt moments of the story, providing the heartbeat of Calf Rope.

Lovely film.

Calf Rope does an impressive jobs of telling a complete, compelling story in less than a half hour. From the first scene, I was drawn into the lives of the characters, transported to a different - and yet familiar - time. The acting is masterful, the costuming superb. I particularly enjoyed the performances of Lukas Barnett as Brandon and Avery Kellington as Corah. The only thing that I wish was different about this movie was that it was longer; I want to spend more time in this world.

This movie will trigger every emotion. You can definitely tell there was a lot of heart from start to finish on this movie. This is a must see family movie. So many memories!! My only complaint is that it wasn't longer.

Central to the plot is the relationship between a young boy (Brandon) and his Grandad Mac. The two bond over the course of a summer as the youngster grows more and more curious about Mac's rodeo past. How could this guy who is known for relentless tickling and occasional troublemaking (especially with Mom and Grandma) be a real-life cowboy? Yes, Calf Rope is essentially a coming of age story; unabashedly heavy on nostalgia. The beauty of the short is how well it is executed by Bradley and Sarah Hawkins, the father/daughter co-founders of their own film production company, Dadley Productions. They have gathered some impressive talent. Lyndsey Hinkle's 1960s production design is impeccable. Director of Photography, Sofia Monzerratt, is equally adept at capturing action-packed rodeo sequences, as she is tender moments between generations. Ms. Monzerratt's camerawork, Bradley Hawkins' direction and Ryan Geesaman's editing of the calf roping and cattle auction scenes, in particular, are exceptional. The casting is spot on. The connection between Lukas Barnett as Brandon and Gorman Ruggiero as Mac is clear the very first time he sets those adoring eyes upon his Grandad. The screenplay (by Jake Stetler and Bradley Hawkins) is equally funny and poignant.

Ultimately it doesn't matter if you are a cowboy at heart, Calf Rope is a powerful tale about legacy, love, and what ties people together.

Bradley Hawkins and his team did quite well on this project. As a filmmaker, one of the hardest things to do is pull off a period piece without compromising authenticity and Calf Rope does it masterfully.

The story itself is heartfelt and timeless. It centers around a young boy and his grandfather in the mid 1960's in Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. This wonderful cast is led by youngster Lukas Barnett who shines as Brandon, a young man obsessed with cowboys and his Grandfather. The Grandfather, Mac, is played brilliantly by Gorman Ruggiero. The entire cast understood and flawlessly executed the vernacular from that time.

While watching this film, the same word kept popping in my head throughout. Authentic. From the props, to the wardrobe... really the entire production design was spot on. Again, a tall task when attempting a period piece. Exemplary work by Lyndsey Hinkle.

It's quite difficult to find really any flaws with this film. Cheers to Bradley Hawkins and his team.